UTRGV men’s soccer (4-0-2, 4-0-2) remain unbeaten as they knockoff Air Force (1-4-1, 1-4-1) in a 3-1 performance earlier today at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex.
With the season coming down the homestretch in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), both teams were looking for three points to bolster their current situation as the conference tournament is around the corner.
Air Force, losers of three straight, desperately needed a win as the traditional WAC powerhouse looks to sneak into the postseason.
UTRGV currently in second, after being picked to finish eight in the preseason coaches poll, were looking to continue their push towards a first-round bye and a regular season title.
In what could amount to a picture-perfect day in South Texas at 78 degrees with partly cloudy skies and a light breeze, both teams battled for possession in the opening minutes of the game.
The Vaqueros slowly eased into their offense as they took seven corner kicks in the first 30 minutes of the match, but Falcon junior goalkeeper Kainoa Likewise neutralized each attempt.
It wasn’t until the 38th minute that UTRGV found a quick combination between junior defender Elyad Shojaei and junior forward Moiad Ankir down the left side to create a golden opportunity for junior forward Reshaun Walkes to put the final touch on his fourth goal of the campaign to put the Vaqueros ahead 1-0 at the break.
Both Shojaei and Ankir were credited with the assist, as Ankir now sits in second in the WAC with four.
Senior forward William Akio, who is the Vaqueros leading goal scorer with four, came into form in the second half finding the back of the net twice, the third time he has scored a pair of goals in a match this season.
The first, in the 62nd minute, Akio received the ball in the middle third and bolted past three Air Force defenders on the right side and then fired a low strike to the near post for the 2-0 insurance goal.
Then in the 80th minute after being dragged down in the box by Falcon senior midfielder Garrett Miyaoka, Akio converted his third PK of the season to give the Vaqueros a comfortable 3-0 lead.
In a postgame news conference via Zoom, UTRGV Head Coach Bryheem Hancock spoke to the relationship between Akio and Walkes, the team’s leading goal-getters.
“The best thing is if you see one guy score you see the other guy celebrate like he got the goal,” Hancock said. “That’s what’s it about.”
Air Force would find the back of the net on an acrobatic scissors kick from freshman forward Thaddaeus Dewing on an assist from sophomore midfielder Nick Bourgeois and junior forward Lathan Spadafora in the 87th minute.
With the late goal, UTRGV failed to record a clean sheet for the fourth game in a row, a mark that Hancock and the team were not pleased with despite the commanding victory.
“The guys weren’t happy after the game with that [late goal],” Hancock said. “I think we said it last game, guys weren’t happy with a tie, not getting three points, guys aren’t happy with giving up a goal late today when you are supposed to get a clean sheet.”
Hancock explained the level of accountability and high-standard all 25 student-athletes hold themselves too, both on and off the field.
“That’s each day and that’s not just on the soccer field,” he said. “It’s in the classroom, that’s making the right decision off the field, especially with everything we’re doing with the [COVID-19] protocols and they’ve done that. For our guys to have that mentality, it’s great.”
Next, the Vaqueros will travel to Houston Baptist for a mid-week bout at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the final road match of the season.
The Huskies remain the only team in the WAC to have yet to win a match this season, but Hancock will not discount his opponent.
“They are going to be ready to go against us. I know they got to watch us play and we respect them as an opponent,” Hancock said. “The [Western Athletic Conference] is one of the strongest in the country, RPI wise, and every game is a tough game. And [we] are on the road, it’s very tough when you are on the road but again it’s another test for our guys, we have to be prepared and ready to go.”
To watch the match live, visit the WAC Digital Network.
Twitter: @Radio_Rubio
